Cooperation - 2009 military drill finishing in Kazakhstan

Final stage of Cooperation-2009 military drill by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is being held at the Matybulak range in Kazakhstan this Friday.

The exercise has brought together up to 7,000 troops from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Armenia, Tajikistan and Belarus. The event is also attended by the presidents of the CSTO member states - Dmitry Medvedev, Kurmanbek Bakiev, Serzh Sargsyan and Nursultan Nazarbaev, news agency "24.kg" reported.

As part of the exercise, collective rapid deployment units demonstrate their combat skills against airborne, tank and intelligence troops, including artillery.

The drill also includes rescue operations and search and destruction of terrorists.